January 17, 1991 · Iraq Theater
January 17, 1991
At 2:38 a.m. Baghdad time on January 17, 1991, the most sophisticated air campaign in history began. F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighters dropped laser-guided bombs on Iraqi command centers and air defense nodes. Tomahawk cruise missiles — launched from ships in the Persian Gulf — flew through Baghdad streets at low altitude, navigating by terrain-following radar to strike the Ministry of Defense and the Ba'ath Party headquarters. CNN reporters in the Al-Rashid Hotel broadcast the explosions live to the world. In the first 24 hours, coalition aircraft flew 1,300 sorties. Iraq's integrated air defense system was blinded within hours.
Commanders